Microfiction: wow Death is hot.

with love and gratitude to “To The Young Who Want To Die,” by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Future microfictions will be available to paid subscribers, but this one is free!

Death is hot.

Death is sitting on your stoop right now, smoking a cigarette. Cigarettes are bad! So bad for you. Cigarettes killed your Grampa. You know this. So why does that cigarette look so sexy, dangling from Death's curled lip? Why do Death's fingers weave the most exquisite dance in the air as Death wields it?

It's because Death is hot, and Death is horny. You can see it, Death is thirsty. For you. Death stretches out long sturdy arms, leans back to better show off an adorable chunky belly. Death laughs. Death has a great laugh. And Death is well-read, wants to talk about all your favorite authors. About Star Trek and Wong Kar Wai and Baldur's Gate 3. Wow Death is fun. Death dangles keys in front of your face. Death’s car is double parked. It's old and ugly and beat uр and beautiful. Somehow it looks exactly like your first car, or your crush's car, or a car on a show you love. Point is, it feels familiar. Death’s engine is rumbling. A low erotic rumble. Wait what, how is Death's car running while Death dangles the Keys? Death assures you these questions are silly. You won't need to worry about any of them ever again. Hop in. Come for a ride, Death says.

You should totally go btw. Death will take you to some gnarly fucking places. Death will show you some shit. And this place? This place clearly fucking sucks. Jeez it's like you couldn't create a shittier place if you tried. Everyone here is unhappy, how is that fucking possible? Garbage everywhere. Metaphorical garbage but also real actual garbage. Fuck this fucked place.

But like hear me out. What if. Okay? What if we don't get in Death’s car. Not right this minute. Okay? Death is hot and fun and smart; Death is going to answer all your questions and show you all the things and take you to where all the best people went, but… how about you stick around here a little longer. Okay? This place needs you. People need you. Animals too! Plants even! No one needs you, where Death will take you. Stay here a little longer. Alright?

Do the things you can't do there. Make someone happy. Help something out. Plant some seeds. Give a hug if that's your thing. Drink some water. Plant some more seeds. Okay? Death will wait. Death has waited a long time. Death will be alright. Let's set something on fire. Let's hold hands and block а highway. Let's fuck in the wreckage of the real. If that's your thing. Let’s scream at something wicked until our throats ache, until we flinch. Fuck there's so much to fucking do. Let's stand in the sunshine. Let's stand in the rain.

There's only one thing hotter than death, beloved, and you better believe that it's you.